Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital participated in the second annual Children’s Hospitals Week sponsored by Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals with a week-long campaign to shine a light on the importance of children’s hospitals. Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is one of 170 member CMN Hospitals across North America that participated in the week-long initiative.

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital also announced that six-year-old Atticus Southall of Zachary, La., serves as the 2018 Champion representing the hospital. In the summer of 2015, Atticus had a near-drowning experience at a pool party when he was only four years old. He made a full recovery after spending several weeks in the Pediatric ICU at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and completing physical therapy.

As the local champion, Atticus will be recognized during CMN events across the Baton Rouge region in 2018. He will also have a chance to be selected as one of 10 champions that represent CMN nationally during Children’s Hospital Week in 2019.

“With the second annual Children’s Hospitals Week in 2018, we’re taking the opportunity to honor not only our Champions and partners, but also the hundreds of children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada who impact the lives of millions of children annually,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. “We’re reminded daily of the fact that contributions of all sizes add up to provide critical funding for pediatric medical equipment, services, research, and charitable care, and that community donations are vital for local kids in need.”

Since its founding in 1983, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $5 billion, most of this a dollar at a time through its Miracle Balloon icon.

“Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital is proud to be a partner hospital of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals since 1989,” said Danny Fields, director of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation. “Through this partnership, we have been able to collaborate with a national network of corporate fundraising partners and implement best-in-class fundraising programs, locally, to generate vital funds and awareness to support our local healthcare initiatives for children across the state of Louisiana, so that kids can receive the best healthcare close to home.”

Supporters of Children’s Hospitals Week are encouraged to participate by writing the name of a child they know who has benefited from care at a children’s hospital on a Band-Aid/bandage, take a photo wearing the bandage, and share it on social media with the following hashtag: #ChildrensHospitalsWeek. There will also be a Facebook Live-a-Thon event on March 7 at 6:30 p.m. CST on www.facebook.com/cmnhospitals.

For more information on how to participate in Children’s Hospitals Week, visit CMNHospitals.org. To make a donation to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital during Children’s Hospitals Week, visit letsbuildamazing.com.